Our “Learn About a Local” badge features a Pacific Ring-necked Snake. This subspecies of Ring-necked Snake is endemic to California, meaning it lives nowhere else. These tiny, secretive snakes hide in moist habitats under rocks, wood, and debris from Sonoma County down to the Monterey Bay Area.

Our “Saving Species” badge features a California Red-legged Frog. During California’s famous Gold Rush, the human population tripled in size and “forty-niners” nearly ate these frogs into extinction. Now they are protected as a threatened species under the Federal Endangered Species Act and are the official state amphibian of California.

Our “Face Your Fear” badge features Northern Pacific Rattlesnake. This snake’s reputation may inspire fear but chances are you are more scary to them! Although they carry a dangerous venom, its main use is to protect themselves from getting hurt by their prey while hunting. When threatened by predators or people they are more likely to slither away or rattle a warning than to bite.

Our “Herpetologist Spotlight” badge features a Western Spadefoot Toad. This rarely seen toad has plenty for a herpetologist to be curious about. As a defense they excrete an a smell like peanuts and can survive hot, dry environments in underground burrows they dig with their hardened spade-like feet.

Our “Seek for Science” badge features a California Newt. This newt lives in wet forests, oak forests, chaparral, and rolling grasslands and can be spotted crawling on land during mating season. Sometimes they travel in large numbers on their way to aquatic breeding sites in the winter. There are over 5,000 iNaturalist observations of this species which adds to our scientific knowledge of where they are found.

Our “Signs of Life” badge features a Sierran Tree Frog, also known as a Chorus frog. This frog is an example of life that you might not see, but you can hear signs of instead. Their call is the same as the Baja Tree Frog which has been featured in the nighttime background soundtrack of many old Hollywood movies.

Our “Map Your Habitat” badge features a Northern Rubber Boa. This snake is nocturnal, or active at night, and crepuscular, which means active at dawn and dusk. They can be active at temperatures that are too cold for most reptiles. Rubber Boa habitat ranges from grasslands to forests. They are often found under logs, boards and other debris or on a trail resembling a small brown pile of poop!

Our “Enjoy the Outdoors” badge features a Pacific Gophersnake. These snakes are one of the most commonly seen snakes on roads and trails where people explore the outdoors. They are especially common to see in the spring as males search for mates and in the fall when baby snake emerge from their eggs.

Our “Create Habitat” badge features a California Toad. These toads are good at taking advantage of habitat created by other animals. They can often be found using rodent holes as well as rock chambers and hollows made by tree roots to shelter from the heat or cold. You can easily make similar habitats in your own yard by providing small shaded shelters and fresh water.

Our “Change Habits” badge features a Mountain King Snake. Although this snake resembles a venomous Coral snake, this brightly colored snake is harmless, a good reminder that we can keep our own homes and gardens looking bright without the use of toxic chemicals.

Our “Combat Climate Change” badge features an Ensatina Salamander. These salamanders breathe through their skin instead of with lungs! Because of this, they have to keep moist. Increasing hot, dry weather in California brought on by climate change doesn’t make that easy. It’s important for us to all do our part to protect people and salamanders by being more energy efficient and reducing use of fossil fuels like coal, natural gas, and oil.

Our “Support A Conservation Cause” badge features the San Francisco garter snake. This highly endangered snake is found only in the San Francisco peninsula. San Francisco garter snakes are popular pets in Europe, where it is possible that there are more of these snakes than there are in the wild in California.